HORSESHOE COMPENDIUM

There was no tournament for the men until February 4-9, 1929, when the next official meet was held at St. Petersburg, Florida. This tournament was not staged on the sumptuous courts of the Sunshine Pleasure Club, but rather across, the tracks in Waterfront Park. It was conducted on the single -round-robin plan, and the prize list offered was considerably lower than in other years, there being $1,210.00 for the men, and $175.00 for the women, a total of $1,385.00.
This tournament was won by Blair Nunamaker of Cleveland, Ohio, who hit an average of .695. Blair met only one defeat in 14 games, losing only to Bert Duryee.
Mrs. Francisco took the title in the women's division.
Following this tournament, horseshoe pitching encountered a slump in big meets. The leading players were heard from now and then as being on a tour or winning a state title, but .it wasn't until July 27-31, 1933, that another world tournament was held. This time it was put on by "A Century of Progress" in Chicago. The prize list offered amounted to $1600.00, with $1,420.00 going to the men. Each contestant was to pitch 100 shoes for total points, and the 24 highest qualifiers were to pitch a single round robin for the title.
Since there had been no world tournament for four and one half years, speculation ran high as to the probable winner. Besides the defending champion, Blair Nunamaker, there were several ex-champions in the field, Davis, Jackson, Mossman, and several strong contenders such as Risk, Duryee and the three Jackson boys. From Arizona came James Lecky, and from the coast came Fernando Isais and Ted Allen, and from Ohio came Grover Hawley, all new names to world tournaments, but highly -touted stars in their own section.
The hundred shoe pitch proved a nightmare for many good pitchers who belonged in the finals, while several poorer ones slipped in due to a good streak in their hundred shoes. A near tragedy occurred when Nunamaker, the defending champion, barely qualified for the finals.
The finals were played off in three days, and the field was led by C .C. Davis, the high qualifier, for the greater part of the time. Blair Nunamaker put up a great fight to hold his title, but slipped down to a tie for third with Jimmy Risk and Fernando Isais.
By a great finish, Ted Allen tied for first with Davis, and in the play-off that followed, became the new world champion by winning two straight games from the former title holder.